We currently employ eight tour guides at Rhondda Heritage Park all are  
ex miners, between them they have 200 years mining experience.

Alan Davies

I started work at the age of 15 at Ty Mawr Colliery, Pontypridd working underground as a faceworker. While working I went to College on day release on a mining engineering course (deputy course). I was then transferred to Lewis Merthyr Colliery (the Heritage Park) where I worked on development. I opened the last coal face to work at this Colliery I was then transferred to Nantgarw Colliery as a faceworker until it closed after the miners strike in 1996. I then came to Lewis Merthyr (Heritage Park ) to work as a guide.

David Lye

I left Islwyn Boy's School, Porth at the age of 15 with no qualifications. I entered the NCB at National Colliery Wattstown at Easter 1958.

Preliminary and Secondary Training was completed at the National Colliery, where I continued to work as Assistant Collier and Packer. At age 25 I gained an All Mines Deputies Certificate.

When the National Colliery closed in 1968, I was transferred to Ty Mawr/Lewis Merthyr where I carried out shot firing and deputies duties. After 14 years these Collieries also closed and I went to work at Abercynon Colliery for my final 2 years work in coal mines. I was made redundant in 1986.

I have since worked in 2 factories and with a Security Firm returning to work at Lewis Merthyr, now The Rhondda Heritage Park in November 2001 as a Guide.

Graham Williams

Started work in Abercynon Colliery in 1957 aged 15, worked there for eight years as a collier.

Started in Cwm Colliery 1965 as a tunneller and developkent worker for four years.

Started work in Merthyr Vale Colliery approximately 1969 as a development worker.

Started in Taff Merthyr 1972, became a Colliery official 1976 until 1993.

Worked with AMCO on the shaft closure of Taff Merthyr until 1994.

Started at Rhondda Heritage Park 1994 to date.

Howard Lewis

I worked in the mining industry for nine years. I started work at National Colliery as a trainee miner then moved to Cwmparc Colliery where I was later employed as Surveyor Linesman. When Cwmparc Colliery closed I was transferred to Nantgarw Colliery. My work underground involved extending survey lines, measuring advance of coal faces and mine roadways and other surveying duties.

At Rhondda College of Further Education I gained my Mining Craft Certificate at Aberdare College of Further Education I gained my General Certificate in mining.

Peter Arundell

Having left Treherbert Secondary Modern School at 15 years of age with no qualifications whatsoever, I joined the National Coal Board (NCB) January 1963.

I started preliminary training at Wattstown Colliery (National) three months after which I went to Fernhill Colliery, Blaenrhondda as a trainee.  This covered numerous jobs within the colliery some being repairing coalface, working haulage, systems conveyor maintenance, lamproom, pithead baths, stores & fitting shop.  Whilst doing my training in these jobs I sought permission to go on Further Education within the Coal Board.  This eventually lead to a job in the Ventilation Dept within the Colliery and the Qualification of a Ventilation Officer and job of the same title, however as the workings of Fernhill were being changed and the ventilation system reduced I was given the job of Training Officer (Nov 1972).  I held this position until my redundancy in Sept 1989.  After 12 months unemployment I attained a job here at Rhondda heritage Park from 1991 to date.

Ron Eveleigh

Born Treherbert - Rhondda 10th Jan 1944

Started work at Lewis Merthyr Colliery in 1960 at 16 years of age as an Electrical Apprentice. Served a five-year apprenticeship surface and underground and was appointed as an underground Electrician in 1965. After a year I went to Maerdy Colliery as an underground electrician on  T27 face (2'9') where I was the coal face electrician.

I was later promoted to shift charge electrical engineer, having qualified academically at  Glamorgan Polytechnic, now known as University of Glamorgan. I was then selected for management training after which I was appointed as a deputy unit electrical engineer finishing my coal-mining career at Merthyr Vale Colliery, Aberfan for thirteen years to 1987.

I have been a guide at Rhondda Heritage Park for 7 years, back to where I started.

Terry Conway

Born 1945 worked in Tymawr Colliery, pit bottom - traffic, also worked as Chargeman maintaining 11 miles of conveyor belts. 10 years service before that in Army Service - Royal Artillery for 6 years. 

Hobbies  

Reading, Photography, Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society.  LRPS

Education  

City and Guilds. Photographic printing

O Level Grade A Photography

A Level Grade B Photography

City and Guilds Man Management

 Mike Salt

Born in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire in 1949, left school in 1964, joined the Staffordshire Regiment in 1966. Served in Cyprus 1967, attended Royal School of Military Engineering at Chatham Kent and trained as an explosives engineer.  Served in West Berlin from 1968 - 1970.  Served in the Middle East, United Arab Emirates, Sultanate of Oman 1971, served in Northern Ireland 1972.
Married in 1973 to Janice from the Rhondda, we have two children and four grandchildren.
Started mineworking at Tymawr Colliery in 1974 after completing my army service working as a faceworker.  Attended Rhondda College in 1980 gained all mines deputies certificate, worked in Lewis Merthyr Colliery until closure in 1983, worked in Cwm Colliery until closure in 1987, worked in Point of Ayr Colliery Prestatyn in 1990 and worked in private mines in 1991.
Left the mining industry and had various jobs until returning to Lewis Merthyr Colliery as a Tour Guide in September 2007.
My hobbies are Genealogy and Social History.